Name a Brits moment more iconic than Geri Halliwell’s Union Jack mini dress. Nope. It’s one for the history books. But Sabrina Carpenter created her own Geri moment when she took to the Brit Awards stage.
Sabrina has established herself as the ultimate awards show entertainer. Her hilarious slapstick Grammys performance (where she disappeared INTO the stage and battled dance fails and wardrobe malfunctions) stole the show last month. But to open the Brits 2025, she served up a concept that was just as camp, fabulous and icon-worthy.
Leaning into the same quintessentially British territory as Geri before her, Sabrina kicked off her performance with a legion of dancers dressed as the King’s Guard, marching in formation before joining them in her own matching costume (which could have been stolen straight from King Charles’ dressing up box). She performed Espresso while the music to Rule Britannia was sampled throughout the song. It was cheeky, cheery, patriotic and a whole mood.
Dave Benett
It’s clear Sabrina thought a lot about how to pay homage to Britain and her fans here, which she detailed breathlessly in her acceptance speech after receiving the Global Success award.
“The first time I ever came to the UK was ten years ago. I was with my mom and nobody knew who I was – maybe 10 people – but all I kept thinking about one day, how exciting it would feel if anyone in the UK knew my music,” she explained. “Now this week, I get to headline the O2, because of you guys. And the Brits have given me this award and this feels like such an insane honour,” she continued.
“In a very primarily tea-drinking country you guys streamed the shit out of Espresso and you streamed Short ‘N Sweet,” Sabrina laughed. “And you’ve really understood my dry sense of humour because your sense of humour is soo sooooo dry,” she added, noting: “so, I love y’all more than you even understand.”